Improved mode of generating illuminating-gas



APATENT OEEICE.

` i ALEXANDER EAMAE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED MODE oF GENERATING lLLuMINATlNe-GAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 97,632, dated December7, 1869. l

To all 'whom it mar/"eoncemf Be it known that I, ALEXANDER HAMAR, ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and `usefulImprovement in the Mode of Generating Gas, and devices connectedtherewith; and I do hereby declare that the following isa clear andexact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the artto'makeandl use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, `forming part of the specification.`

Figure 1 represents a set of retorts with steam-pipes. Fig. 2 representsa sectional View. 7

The nature of my invention consists in the introduction of jets of steaminto the gas-retorts while generating gas; also, in the means by whichit is accomplished, whereby the car- `bonization of the retorts isprevented, and a f larger quantity and better quality of gas are`produced from the same amount of coal, and

less lime is used for purifying the gas.

Iconnect a set of retorts, bpb b, with small pipes a a a, which areprovided with stop- .cocks. Each of these pipes is set into themouth-piece of "a retort, with the bend a' facing toward the rearof theretort, which enables meto force the steam toward the opposite end andthrough the entire length thereof. The same result may be accomplishedby introducing the steam-pipes through the rear of the retorts, as shownin Fig. 2 5 but I prefer to set them in the mouth-pieces.

The operation is as follows: The retorts are charged with coal in thecommon way, and one hour subsequent tothe charge being introduced l openthe stop-cocks d and force the steam into the retorts for two minutes,after which the steam is shutoff again, and the gas is left to generatefor another hour, when the introduction of steam through the pipes isrenewed. The length of the flow of steam being a little more than atfirst, the quantity of steam to be introduced depends on the quality ofcoal, harder quality requiring more. Subsequent to the secondintroduction of steam the gas is again permitted to generate until a fewminutes previous to the time for lifting the lids from the retorts,which is done for the purpose of removing the coke, when steam is againintroduced fora minute or two.

rIhe chemical process is as follows: When the coal has no more hydrogento give ofIn freely its gases, hydrogen is supplied by means of steam,these combining thehydrogen with the carbon, (which latterotherwisewould remain lying on the inner surface of the retort,) andcarrying it off through the exhaust-pipes as carbureted hydrogen, andthereby increasing the production of gas.

Another and very material gain in the quantity of gas produced by mymeans is, that the steam introduced into the retorts previous lto thelifting of the lids drives the gas into the gasometer, whereas by theold process the retorts were always full of gas, which at the time of'lifting the lids escaped.

The saving by means of my process is twenty per cent. over the ordinarymethod.

Another advantage is the prevention of accumulation of carbon in theretorts.

In the common way of generating gas the accumulated carbon in theretorts has to be burned out, the process of which takes from eight toten days, the expense of fuel, and often injury to the retortsthemselves.

Claims. y

A. HAMAR.

.Witnesses T. G. GoNNoLLY, TES. G. WooDwAED.

